Cumberland County figures in Nova Scotia’s commitment to renewable energy

HALIFAX – Cumberland County is playing a valuable part in Nova Scotia Power’s commitment to renewable energy.

The power corporation announced Tuesday that it is continuing to produce real results on the road to a low-carbon, clean energy future, with 29 per cent of electricity in Nova Scotia last year coming from renewable energy resources.

This achievement surpassed the previous record set in 2016 of 28 per cent of electricity generated in the province coming from renewables.

“We’ve worked diligently over the past decade to move from coal to cleaner energy by using creative solutions that allow us to take advantage of wind power when it’s available, and ramp up more reliable, electricity generation - such as hydro and thermal - when customers need it most,” Nova Scotia Power President and CEO Karen Hutt said in a news release. “Our customers expect us to provide a smarter, cleaner, cost-effective service and our team is embracing this challenge. We’re testing cutting-edge technology such as battery storage and electric vehicle chargers, making connections with neighbouring provinces for economic energy exchanges, and investing in hydro resources in our own backyard, which will help us deliver clean, reliable electricity to Nova Scotians for generations to come.”

Hutt pointed to wind farms in Springhill and on the Tantramar Marsh near Amherst, as well as the community-based wind project between the Pumping Station Road and the John Black Road, as playing a key role in producing renewable energy.

Together, they generate enough electricity to power about 11,000 homes. Hutt said the Tantramar Marsh wind farm is an impressive sight on the landscape near the New Brunswick border, as highway travelers are much closer to these turbines than those situated in more rural areas of Nova Scotia.

The 2017 results exceeded the legislated requirement that 25 per cent of Nova Scotia Power’s electricity comes from renewable sources, and the company is well on track to achieve the 40 per cent renewable requirement that takes effect in 2020.

 Nova Scotia has tripled its renewable energy generation over the past decade, with only 9 per cent of Nova Scotia’s electricity coming from renewable sources in 2007. Additionally, Nova Scotia Power has already achieved and exceeded Canada’s 2030 target of reducing carbon dioxide by 30 per cent from 2005 levels. B

y 2030, Nova Scotia Power expects to achieve a 58 per cent reduction from 2005 levels, which is almost double the national target.

“We’re proud to be Canadian industry leaders in the adoption of wind energy and in reducing carbon emissions, which is a remarkable transformation for a province that has historically relied on fossil fuels to make electricity,” said Hutt. “The addition of more than 300 wind turbines and reductions in coal-fired generation has put us on the map – all Nova Scotians should be proud of this incredible achievement.”